Article delivery means for coincontrolled machines



March 31, 1936. T, w, B, WATLING ARTICLE DELIVERY MEANS FOR COIN CONTROLLEb MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 27, 1934 March 31, 1936. T. w B, WAT| |NG 2,035,853

ARTICLE DELIVERY MEANS FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINES Filed July 27, 1.934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f 6722??? JZMM I w j w/kw 94%:4

Patented Mar. 31, 1936 HTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTICLE DELIVERY MEANS FOR COIN- UONTROLLED MACHINES Application July 27 1934, Serial No. 737,213

12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to article delivery means but it is particularly adapted for use in connection with coin-controlled vending machines and the like which are adapted to dispense checks, tokens, or coupons according to some predetermined plan for supplying premium coupons to customers.

The most common type of delivery means heretofore in use in coin-controlled machines ineluded a magazine having a hinged wall provided with a portion which served as a movable bottom or gate for supporting all the articles in the magazine. Such a construction has been very objectionable because, when the magazine was completely loaded, the weight of its contents frequently caused the movable wall to bulge, thereby opening the bottom gate.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an article delivery magazine having an im- 20 proved form of gate for controlling its outlet opening; to provide a gate which is independent of the side walls of the magazine so as not to be affected by any pressure exerted by the contents of the magazine; to provide improved mechanism 5- for operating the gate; and to provide improved operating mechanism of this kind adapted to alternately operate two or more of such gates when it is desired to use a magazine having a plurality of compartments.

30 An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a vertical section of an improved delivery magazine with twin compartments and 35 its gate operating mechanism, the view being taken on the line i-I of Fig. 2; the open position of a gate being represented in dotted outline.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the magazine and the gate operating mechanism, one of the gates being broken away and part of the casing being shown.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and showing the positions of the 45 parts when both gates are closed.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the reciprocable carriage in its lowermost position as it would be when one gate is open and the other closed.

50 Fig. 5 is a perspective of the two gates, one open and the other closed; the two gate-operating cams being also shown.

Inasmuch as this improved delivery means is adapted for use in connection with many differ- 55 ent types of machines, the drawings illustrate only those portions which will be of assistance in describing the delivery means.

In the form herein shown, the delivery means is used to deliver checks, tokens or coupons in connection with a coin-controlled machine having a casing provided with a front wall I, a portion of which projects forwardly to form a housing 2 having a downwardly and forwardly inclined front plate 3 provided with a central window 4. Extending across the window 4 is a transparent pane 5 which is clamped between the plate 3 and the forward edges of a frame 6 which is secured to the front wall by screws 1.

The pane 5 forms the front wall of a magazine having twin compartments 3, 9 which are formed by a central partition It, and a downwardly and forwardly inclined rear wall I2. The members It] and I2 are preferably integral portions of the frame 6 which comprises a top wall l3, end walls l4, l5, and a bottom strip [6. The upper end of the rear wall 12 is inclined rearwardly and is spaced from the top wall l3 to leave an inlet opening I! for receiving an inlet chute, not shown, through which the tokens or other articles are delivered to the compartments 8, 9 of the magazine. The inlet chute may be secured to the frame by screws engaging threaded apertures IS in the frame.

The lower open ends of the compartments 8,

9, communicate with a return chute I9 which is adapted to deliver the tokens or other articles to the operator of the machine. The delivery chute is located in the lower portion of the housing 2 and may be secured to a bottom flange 20 of the front wall I by screws 2|.

The articles are supported in the magazine by a pair of gates 22 having ears 23 which are pivotally secured to a rod 24 supported on lugs 25 of the frame. The lower ends of the gates 22 0 are bent forwardly to form ledges or shelves 26 which are adapted to project through openings 21 in the rear wall l2 so as to form retractable bottoms for the magazine compartments. Each gate is counterbalanced so as to swing to open position for emptying its compartment when it is released as hereinafter described.

Mounted on the ears 23 and disposed substantially parallel to the rod. 24, are rods 28 adapted to coact with a pair of rotary cams 29, 30 for opening and closing the gates in succession.

The cams 29, 30 are fixed on a shaft 3| which is journaled in lugs 32, 33 formed on the frame 6. Fixed on one end of the shaft 3!, is a toothed wheel 34 having radial arms 35, the outer ends of which are bent to form axially disposed prongs or teeth 36.

The wheel 34 is intermittently actuated for successively emptying the magazine compartments by an improved operating mechanism which comprises a vertically reciprocable carriage 31 having bearing parts 38, 39, which slidably engage a pair of rods which are supported in arms 4|, 42 formed on the frame 6.

The carriage is urged downwardly by a spring 43 connected at its upper end to a hook 44 on the bearing part 38 and at its lower end to the arm 42 of the frame. The carriage is lifted against the action of the spring 43 by an actuator in the form of a bell crank 45 fixed on a shaft 46 which is journaled in lugs 41 and 48 on the frame. The lower end of the bell crank is located in the path of a reciprocable bar 49 which is part of the coincontrolled mechanism. The other end of the bell crank engages a roller 56 journaled on a lug 5| of the carriage so that, when the bar 49 is actuated, the bell crank is rocked and the carriage 31 is lifted.

Mounted on an arm 52 at the upper end of the carriage 31, is a pin 53 on which is pivoted a pawl 54 which is adapted to engage the toothed wheel on the down-stroke of the carriage for rotating the wheel one step. Stops 55 and 56 on the pawl 54 are adapted to engage respectively opposite sides of the arm 52 for limiting the rocking movement of the pawl. A spring 51 is connected to the stop 55 and to the arm 52 for normally holding the pawl in thepath of the teeth of the wheel 34.

On the up-stroke of the carriage, the toothed wheel is actuated by a pawl 58 pivoted on a pin 59 mounted on an arm 60 of the carriage. The upper end 6| of the pawl 58 is adapted to engage the lower edge of one of the teeth of the wheel and this pawl is held in operative position by a spring 62 which is connected to the pawl and to the carriage. A stop 63 on the pawl 58 engages the arm 68 to limit the movement of the pawl under the action of the spring 62.

Adjacent the upper end of the pawl 58, is an inclined cam 64 adapted to ride over the toothed wheel on the down-stroke of the carriage so as to permit the pawl 58 to move outwardly for clearing the toothed Wheel.

When the carriage occupies its elevated position as shown in Figure 3, the toothed Wheel is secured against rotation by shoulders 65 and 66 on a stop member 61 which is formed on the pawl 58.

The carriage is locked in its elevated position by means of a latch which comprises a keeper 68 and a pivoted detent 69. The keeper 68 is fixed on the shaft 46 and has a slot 18 for receiving the detent. The detent is pivotally secured to the frame 6 by a pin H and this detent has an arm 12 located in the path of a coin-controlled bar 13 which is part of the operating mechanism. A spring 14 urges the detent into operative position.

In operation the tokens or other articles enter the two compartments of the magazine through the inlet opening H by means of a suitable chute not shown. Normally the two gates 22 are held in closed position as shown in Figure 1 for supporting the articles in the magazine and the carriage 31 is locked in its uppermost position by means of the keeper 68 and detent 69. In this position of the parts, the toothed wheel 34 is locked against rotation as shown in Figure 3 by means of the shoulders 65 and 66.

both of the gates cannot be opened at the same time. Upon the opening of one of the gates 22, all of the articles in the compartment which it controls drop through the chute I9 and are delivered to the operator.

After one of the gates 22 is opened, upon the next operation of the machine, the bar 49 moves forwardly thereby rocking the bell crank actuator 45, which raises the carriage 31 against the action of the spring 43. Upon the up-stroke of the carriage 31, the upper edge 6| of the pawl 58 engages the lower edge of one of the teeth 36 for rotating the toothed wheel 34 one step, thereby rotating the shaft 3| and cams 29 and 38 for closing the open gate. Upon the next downstroke of the carriage, the other gate is opened. On the up-stroke of the carriage, while the pawl 58 is rotating the toothed wheel, one of the teeth of. the toothed wheel rides in contact with the rear edge of the pawl 54 so as to rock the pawl 54 forwardly against the action of the spring 51. On the down-stroke of the carriage, one of the rising teeth of the toothed wheel, engages the inclined cam surface 64 I03? the pawl 58 so as to rock the pawl 58 rearwardly against the action of its spring 62, but when the edge 6| falls below the adjacent tooth, the spring 62 pulls the pawl 58 forwardly so as to bring the edge 6| underneath the adja-' cent tooth in position to again actuate the toothed wheel on the next up-stroke of the carriage.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered Without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims. r

I claim: I

1. In a device of the class described, an article delivery magazine having an outlet opening at its lower end, a lever located outside of said magazine and having a ledge at one end adapted to project into said outlet opening to form the bottom of said magazine, mechanism for rocking said lever in one direction to shift said ledge into said outlet for supporting the articles in said magazine, and a releasable latch for locking said mechanism to retain said lever in closed position, said lever being counterbalanced to rock in the opposite direction for opening said outlet when said latch is released.

2. In a device of the class described, a casing having a front wall provided with an opening therein, a frame located within said casing and secured to said front wall, a window pane extending across said opening and clamped between said front wall and said frame, said frame and window pane defining an article delivery magazine having an outlet opening at its lower end, a lever hinged on said frame and having a ledge adapted to project into said outlet opening to form the bottom of the magazine for supporting the articles when the lever occupies its closed position, mechanism supported on said frame for rocking said lever into said closed position, and a releasable latch for locking said mechanism to retain said lever in closed position, said lever being adapted to swing to its open position upon the release of said mechanism.

3. In a device of the class described, anarticle delivery magazine comprising a pair of compartments having outlet openings at their lower ends, a pair of hinged gates controlling said outlet openings respectively, a pair of rotatable cams for operating said gates respectively, a shaft supporting said cams, said cams being adapted to operate said gates in succession when said shaft is rotated, said cams when rotated to certain positions being adapted to positively lock said gates against opening, a toothed wheel on said shaft, mechanism for intermittently rotating said toothed wheel, means for locking said mechanism to positively lock both of said gates in closed position, and a releasable latch for releasing said locking means.

4. In a device of the class described, an article delivery magazine having an outlet opening, a gate controlling said outlet opening, a rotatable member for retaining said gate in closed position, a rotatable shaft for driving said member, a

toothed wheel on said shaft, a reciprocable carriage, and a pawl mounted on said carriage and arranged to intermittently actuate said toothed wheel.

5. In a device of the class described, an article delivery magazine having an outlet opening, a gate controlling said outlet opening, a rotatable member for operating said gate, a rotatable shaft for driving 'said member, a toothed wheel on said shaft, a reciprocable carriage, and a pair of pawls mounted on said carriage and arranged to alternately actuate said toothed wheel, said rotatable member closing said gate upon one stroke of said carriage and releasing said gate upon the return stroke of said carriage.

6. In a device of the class described, an article delivery magazine having an outlet opening, a gate controlling said outlet opening, a rotatable member for retaining said gate in closed position, said gate being adapted to open when said member is rotated to a certain position, a rotatable shaft for driving said member, a toothed Wheel on said shaft, a reciprocable carriage, a pair of pawls carried by said carriage and arranged to intermittently rotate said toothed wheel, one of said pawls actuating said wheel when said carriage moves in one direction and the other pawl actuating said wheel upon the return stroke of said carriage, and means for reciprocating said carriage, said gate being closed upon one stroke of said carriage and being opened upon the return stroke of said carriage.

7. In a device of the class described, an article delivery magazine having an outlet opening, a gate controlling said outlet opening, a rotatable member for operating said gate, a rotatable shaft for driving said member, a toothed wheel on said shaft, a vertically reciprocable carriage, a pair of pawls carried by said carriage for intermittently actuating said wheel, one of said pawls actuating said Wheel on the up-stroke of said carriage for closing said gate and the other pawl actuating said wheel on the down-stroke of said carriage for opening said gate, and means for reciprocating said carriage.

8. In a device of the class described, an article delivery magazine having an outlet opening at its lower end, a hinged gate controlling said outlet opening, a rotary cam for closing said gate, a

shaft for supporting said cam, a toothed wheel on said shaft, a reciprocable carriage, a pair of pawls on said carriage for intermittently rotating said wheel, means for locking said wheel against rotation when said carriage occupies one position for holding said gate closed, and a releasable latch for retaining said carriage in said one position.

9. In a device of the class described, an article delivery magazine having an outlet opening at its lower end, a hinged gate controlling said outlet opening, a rotary cam for operating said gate, a shaft for supporting said cam, a toothed wheel on said shaft, a reciprocable carriage, a pair of pawls on said carriage for intermittently rotating said wheel, means on one of said pawls for locking said wheel against rotation in either direction when said carriage occupies one position, a releasable latch for retaining said carriage in said one position, means for releasing said latch, and mechanism for reciprocating said carriage.

10. In a device of the class described, a casing having a front wall, a frame located within said casing and secured to said front wall, an article delivery magazine having a pair of compartments provided with outlet openings at the lower end thereof, a delivery chute communicating with said outlet openings, a pair of gates hinged on said frame and controlling said outlet openings respectively, a shaft rotatably mounted on said frame, a pair of rotary cams fixed on said shaft and adapted to open and close the said gates in succession, a toothed wheel fixed on said shaft, a vertically reciprocable carriage mounted on said frame, a pair of pawls carried by said carriage and adapted to intermittently actuate said toothed wheel, an actuator pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to lift said carriage for moving said toothed wheel one step, and a releasable latch for locking said actuator to retain said carriage in its elevated position.

11. In a device of the class described, a casing having a front wall provided with a window, an article delivery magazine having a pair of compartments located behind said window, said compartments having outlet openings at the lower end thereof, a pair of hinged gates controlling said outlet openings respectively, a rotatable shaft journaled in said casing, a pair of cams fixed on said shaft and adapted to operate said gates in succession, a toothed wheel fixed on said shaft, a vertically reciprocable carriage mounted in said casing, a pair of pawls carried by said carriage for intermittently rotating said toothed wheel, one of said pawls being adapted to actuate said wheel on the up-stroke of said carriage and the other of said pawls being adapted to actuate said toothed wheel on the down stroke of said carriage, a spring urging said carriage downwardly, a bell crank lever pivotally secured to said casing for lifting said carriage against the action of said spring, and a releasable latch for locking said bell crank lever to retain said carriage in its elevated position.

12. In a device of the class described, a casing having a front wall provided with a window, an article delivery magazine having a pair of compartments located behind said window, said compartments having outlet openings at the lower end thereof, a pair of hinged gates controlling said outlet openings respectively, a rotatable shaft journaled in said casing, a pair of cams fixed on said shaft and adapted to operate said gates in succession, a toothed wheel fixed on said shaft, a vertically reciprocable carriage mounted in said casing, a pair of pawls carried by said carriage for intermittently rotating said toothed wheel, one of said pawls being adapted to actuate said wheel on the up-stroke of said carriage and the other of said pawls being adapted to actuate said toothed wheel on the down stroke of said carriage, means on said one pawl for locking said toothed wheel against rotation in either direction when said carriage is in its elevated position, a spring urging said carriage downwardly, a bell crank lever pivotally secured to said casing for lifting said carriage against the action of said spring, and a releasable latch for locking said bell crank lever to retain said carriage in its elevated position.

THOMAS W. B. WATLING. 

